Rwandan peacekeeper killed in CAR laid to rest
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Rwanda Defence Force officers pay tribute to the Rwandan Peacekeeper Sgt Eustache Tabaro who recently lost his life in the Central African Republic. Sgt Tabaro was laid to rest in full military honors at Kanombe Military Cemetery on Tuesday, July 18. . Courtesy

Sergeant Eustache Tabaro, the Rwandan soldier who was killed by armed elements in the Central African Republic, was laid to rest at the Kanombe Military Cemetery on Tuesday, July 18.

Tabaro was laid to rest in full military honours during the ceremony that was attended by his family, RDF senior and junior officers as well as his friends.

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The ceremony was presided over by the Special Operations Force Deputy Commander, Col Augustin Migabo, on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga.

Family members of Late Sergeant Eustache Tabaro, lay wreaths during the burial at the Kanombe Military Cemetery on Tuesday, July 18. Courtesy

The 39-year-old Rwandan soldier served in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in CAR (MINUSCA).

He was killed in an attack by unidentified armed elements near Sam-Ouandja, in Haute-Kotto Province, North-eastern CAR.

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The RDF and the UN condemned the attack, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the CAR government to conduct an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The RDF said Rwandan peacekeepers remain committed to the protection of civilians.

Rwanda is the fourth largest troop-contributor to UN missions with 4,585 military personnel deployed to the UN peacekeeping operations in South Sudan (UNMISS) and MINUSCA.

Mourners during a requiem mass

The ceremony was presided over by the Special Operations Force Deputy Commander, Col Augustin Migabo, on behalf of the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga.